Although you may not be able to control the temperature of your child's classroom or the school's waste program, there is still plenty that you and your kids can do to practice conservation. What's more, the things Rogers recommends are small, manageable changes that won't take too much time—or break the bank.

"These simple shifts are meant to save people time and money and to be easy, not to make life harder," Rogers says. "Because at the end of the day, who needs that?"

Packing a "waste-free" lunch, for example, saves not only packaging, but also the money you would have spent on a year's worth of plastic baggies and other disposable containers. Walking, carpooling and riding a bike to school are also good for your wallet and for the environment.

Read on for more great tips on getting your kids to school, buying supplies and packing lunches—the green way.